AN official of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) on Monday, August 27, said the temporary loss of mobile phone services was among the factors that made the annual floats and Civic Military Parade Monday, August 27, and other Higalaay Festival events peaceful.
Residents were unable to send messages, make or receive calls, and even use mobile data during some fiesta activities as it was suspended by various telecommunication companies in compliance with the directive of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
However, the temporary loss of cellphone signals is only for few hours during the Carnival parade on Saturday, August 25 and until the religious procession today, August 28, from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.
Cocpo spokesperson Superintendent Mardy Hortillosa II said this is part of the police's security measures.
"Gi-attribute nato ang successful nga parade sa atong gi-implement nga security measures apil na ang pag-cut off sa signal sa cellphones ug participation sa security sector ug katawhan (We attributed the success of the parade in the security measures we implemented including cutting off cellphone signal and the participation of different security sector and the public.),"Hortillosa said.
However, some took to social media their complaints about the temporary loss of mobile phone signals.
"By cutting the signal, a supposed merry-making fiesta turns into fear-hurling event," Alejandro Bascon said in his Facebook account.
"Dili namo ibaylo ang seguridad sa katawhan sa reklamo sa pipila lang ka tawo. Sa pagmalinawon sa syudad atol sa mga activities usa nana ka kalampusan nga naangkon natong tanan apil natong gareklamo sa social media (We cannot sacrifice the security of the public with complaints of the some people. Having a peaceful fiesta celebration is a success to everyone including those who complained through social media.)," Hortillosa said.
Hortillosa said a roughly 200,000 residents and tourists watched and witness the four-hour parade, Monday, August 27.